Knowing who to call in a plumbing emergency is important, but did you know that any homeowner could easily fix many common plumbing problems? With a little help, any homeowner can handle the little projects with ease. One potential problem with you home’s plumbing, and possibly one of the most common plumbing related problems in any home, is a leaky faucet. Every faucet in the home, at some point in its life, will leak or drip. And, with a little knowledge, any homeowner should be able to tackle this small task.

Once you have fixed several faucets and you have gotten used to the dismantling a faucet, the most difficult part of any faucet fix is actually finding the correct replacement parts for your faucet. Single lever faucets, which are very common in almost every home, come in three different styles: Rotary ball, cartridge, and ceramic disc. And, before you dismantle your faucet, know exactly where the leak is coming from, because a leak near the base of the faucet will require a different fix then a leak at the spout. And, while there are variations in the dismantling process for every faucet brand and type, every faucet project will begin the same way: shut off the water.

With the water off, dismantle your faucet in accordance with the leak. If you have never dismantled your faucet before, it may be wise to film yourself taking the faucet apart, so, when it is time to put everything back together, you can merely review your footage if you have forgotten how to put it back together. If the faucet is leaking at the base, it may be as simple as removing the lever and replacing the O-rings. But, after you have determined where the leak has occurred and you have the parts that need to be replaced, take those parts with you to the home store. Plumbing parts can be difficult to match up, although some brands make entire kits for fixing a leak.

The tools needed for fixing a leaky faucet are simple: 4-in-1 screwdriver, Allen Wrench, Pliers, and Slip-Joint Pliers. These tools can be purchased at plumbing specialty stores as well as the local home store.